Improvement in seal-locks



F. w. BROOKS & E. WHITNEY.

Improvement in Seal-Locks.

Patented Nov. 12, 1872.

. \MWI INVENTURS.

WITNESSES.

AM. PHDYO-L/T/IDGHAPIIIC cam: {OSBORNE S PHUCESSJ FRANKLIN W. BROOKS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND ELI WHITNEY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO THE AMERICAN SEAL-LOCK COM- PANY, OF NEW YORK CITY.

WIPROVEMENT IN SEAL-=LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 133,613, dated November 12, 1872.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that we, FRANKLIN W. Bnoons, of the city, county, and State of New York, and ELI WHITNEY, of the city and county of New Haven, in the State of Connecticut, have invented certain Improvements in Seal-Locks, of which the following is a specification:

The subject of this invention is a device adapted for use, after the manner of a padlock, for securing a shackle or hasp of any kind upon its staple or fastening any other two objects together; but instead of or in addition to locking mechanism operated by a key, it is provided with a seal to prevent its being opened without detection. Our device consists-of a ring or annular bow in two parts, hinged together, and'furnished at their free ends witha spring-catch so combined with a glass seal that when the said ends are pressed together they will be locked, and cannot then be separated without breaking the seal or destroying the lock, one member being furnished with a spring-catch, and adapted to receive a glass seal in such a manner that, when the free end of the other member is brought down between the said catch and seal, it will be secured by the former and will confine the seal. The said seals are made with any suitable distinguishing marks, and when in position mask the approach to the spring-catch, so that the lock cannot be opened without breaking the seal. A common lead seal may also be applied to the projecting end of the shackle for additional security.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is an elevation of a lock illustrating our invention, the dotted lines showing its open condition, Fig. 2 is a section at a; m, Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is an elevation of a lock illustrating a slightly modified form of the same invention; Fig. 4 is a section at 3 y, Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a section at 2 2, Fig. 3. v

A and B are two parts of a ring or clasp, of any desired shape, hinged together at C. The upper member, A, is made sufficiently small at the end a to pass readily through any staple to which it is to be applied, and is formed with a hook or eye to be engaged by a spring-catch, D, within the socket E when the clasp is closed. This spring-catch is so arranged that it may be forced back by pressure of a pointed instrument through an aperture, F. This aperture is covered in front by a glass seal, S, which seal is slidden into the socket when the lock is open, and is there held securely by the closing of the lock. The catch D may consist of a hook, as shown in Fig 2, or a sliding bolt, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. It may be pressed forward by either a flat or a spiral spring. This seal-lock may also be provided with a spring or other bolt, to be operated by a key.

In order to open the lock, the seal S must first be broken to give access to the aperture F. A pointed instrument is then inserted to force back the catch D, and thus release the end a of the shackle. The lock can now be opened, as illustrated in dotted lines. When it is to be again applied a new seal is inserted in the socket prepared therefor. 4

A pivoted cap, G, pierced for the passage of the point a, may be applied over the sealsocket, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, its open or retracted position being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. This cap is not essential to v the invention, as the shackle-bar A may itself be formed to prevent the escape of the seal. A cap, H, may also be employed to protect the face of the seal, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. If the lower member, B, of the'lock be curved in the form shown in Fig. 3, and the point a, made to project through its socket, the thumb of the hand which grasps the bar B may be readily applied to the point a while the other hand presses back the catch D. A lead seal, L, may be applied to the projecting end a, if desired.

Claim.

We claim as our invention- The lock-bow B, carrying the glass seal S and spring-catch D, in combination with the shackle-bow A, hinged to the bow B, passing endwise into the socket E in the rear of the seal S, where it is secured by the catch D and secures the seal S, all as herein described.

FRANKLIN W. BROOKS. ELI WHITNEY.

Witnesses as to ELI WHITNEY:

THEO. F. SANXAY,

GEO. A. EVERETT. Witnesses as to F. W. BROOKS:

OOTAVIUS KNIGHT,

WALTER ALLEN. 

